As ThinkProgress noted last weekend, the “world’s largest” Confederate flag will soon be flying over Tampa at one of the nation’s busiest intersections. The backers of the project — the Sons of Confederate Veterans — insist the flag isn’t about racism or slavery but rather “honoring our ancestors and about celebrating our heritage.”
The Tampa Tribune reports that the flag was raised on Tuesday to celebrate “Confederacy President Jefferson Davis’ birthday,” but was taken down Tuesday night. At a county commission meeting on Wednesday, local officials said they did not have the legal authority to prevent the flag from being flown, but are urging the Sons group not to go ahead with its plans.
This morning, Fox and Friends hosted Marion Lambert of the Sons group to explain why he was pushing for the flag display. When asked what dialogue he is trying to generate, Lambert answered, “Well, you see, Southerners have been marginalized for the last 20-25 years.” He feigned ignorance about the flag’s divisive history:
FOX: Not only is the Confederate flag, as you say, a symbol of Southern heritage. It also has become a symbol of racism and bigotry. The KKK uses it. Do you understand how hurtful and offensive your flying this massive flag may be to some people?
LAMBERT: No I don’t. Specifically because it’s well known that the KKK flies a US flag and a Christian flag. And so why aren’t those flags…embodied within that understanding of hatred…It flies in the face of reason that we demonize this particular flag.
After Lambert spoke, Fox hosted Curtis Stokes, president of NAACP chapter in Tampa, who argued that Lambert’s actions “fly in the face of human decency.” Watch it:
“There is a right way and wrong way to respect history,” said Michelle Williams of the Community Activists of Public Affairs. “You don’t see us out there flying flags of lynching.” Local black citizens have “threatened an economic boycott and protests that could sully the county’s image as the nation focuses on Tampa in January as the site of the Super Bowl.”
The massive Confederate flag, which will be hoisted on private property just off Interstate 75, costs $800 and was made in China.
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